Plus, owner Merritt Paulson wanted to mimic the initials of his Major League Soccer team, PTFC. So there’s that.

I also know that names, nicknames, logos, mascots, etc., can be good or bad – but fans generally embrace and take ownership. It’s a little like criticizing someone in your own family; you can do it, but nobody else can.

So the tribal allegiances, especially in a place like Portland, will ensure that Portland Thorns catch on. I have little doubt that Portland will be fine in terms of support for the new women’s association, relative to the upstart league’s overall level of patronage and interest.

Oh, I also really like the short video Portland used to introduce its new logo. Well done, folks! Here’s the video:

I actually really enjoy the logo. It has an Old World feel to it while truly representing the city it’s meant to represent. That being said, the logo would’ve been much better suited for a name like Rose City FC instead of Portland Thorns. The chosen name has WNBA written all over it…